-
Toxicology Jan 2023Sulfur mustard (SM), an extremely reactive alkylating toxicant, which poses a continuing threat to both military and civilian populations. SM targets three major organs... (Review)
Review
Sulfur mustard (SM), an extremely reactive alkylating toxicant, which poses a continuing threat to both military and civilian populations. SM targets three major organs including skin, eyes and lungs. In recent years, more and more clinical findings have shown that cognitive and emotional disorders in veterans intoxicated with SM, such as anxiety, depression, apathy, cognitive decline and so on, which indicated the long time toxic effects on mental and neurological health of SM. The experimental studies in animal and cell models have also found neurotoxicity which are similar to clinical results. However, these neuropsychological problems are not studied well in victims of SM and the mental and neurological complications are often not subjected to treatment or undertreated. Until now, the exact mechanism of the action of SM toxicity has not been elucidated and no specific therapy for its poisoning exists. Therefore, the studies on neurotoxicity of SM should be strengthened. This review summarizes the main progress of clinical and experimental researches on neurotoxicity of SM for the past few years.
Topics: Animals; Mustard Gas; Chemical Warfare Agents; Skin; Eye; Lung; Neurotoxicity Syndromes
PubMed: 36356660
DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153372 -
IEEE Transactions on Image Processing :... 2022Recent research shows deep neural networks are vulnerable to different types of attacks, such as adversarial attacks, data poisoning attacks, and backdoor attacks. Among...
Recent research shows deep neural networks are vulnerable to different types of attacks, such as adversarial attacks, data poisoning attacks, and backdoor attacks. Among them, backdoor attacks are the most cunning and can occur in almost every stage of the deep learning pipeline. Backdoor attacks have attracted lots of interest from both academia and industry. However, most existing backdoor attack methods are visible or fragile to some effortless pre-processing such as common data transformations. To address these limitations, we propose a robust and invisible backdoor attack called "Poison Ink". Concretely, we first leverage the image structures as target poisoning areas and fill them with poison ink (information) to generate the trigger pattern. As the image structure can keep its semantic meaning during the data transformation, such a trigger pattern is inherently robust to data transformations. Then we leverage a deep injection network to embed such input-aware trigger pattern into the cover image to achieve stealthiness. Compared to existing popular backdoor attack methods, Poison Ink outperforms both in stealthiness and robustness. Through extensive experiments, we demonstrate that Poison Ink is not only general to different datasets and network architectures but also flexible for different attack scenarios. Besides, it also has very strong resistance against many state-of-the-art defense techniques.
Topics: Ink; Neural Networks, Computer; Poisons; Semantics
PubMed: 36040942
DOI: 10.1109/TIP.2022.3201472 -
Archivos Argentinos de Pediatria Aug 2022Pediatric poisoning is a public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to establish the characteristics of pediatric cases of poisoning seen at the...
INTRODUCTION
Pediatric poisoning is a public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to establish the characteristics of pediatric cases of poisoning seen at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a hospital in Chile.
POPULATION AND METHODS
The medical records of patients diagnosed with poisoning and admitted to the PICU between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed.
RESULTS
A total of 105 cases were identified, who account for 3% of all admissions recorded in the study period. Patients' median age was 10 years. In total, 73.3% of cases were female patients; 51% of cases were associated with intentional poisoning; and 83% were caused by drug exposure. The most common drugs identified were antidepressants (11.2%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (10.7%). Intake was the most frequent route of exposure (93%). The average length of stay in the PICU was 1.3 days. One patient required intubation and another required hemodialysis in the PICU. Statistically significant relationships were established between patient sex and the circumstance of exposure and between the patient's psychiatric condition and the number of toxic substances ingested.
CONCLUSIONS
Most poisoning cases seen at the PICU were intentional and occurred in female patients, who had a psychiatric condition. The most common drugs identified were antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antidepressive Agents; Child; Chile; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Infant; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Male; Poisons; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35900952
DOI: 10.5546/aap.2022.eng.257 -
Current Medical Science Oct 20222-Methoxyjuglone, a member of the 1,4-naphthoquinone family, was first obtained through semi-synthesis based on 2-hydroxyjuglone as the precursor in 1966. It has been... (Review)
Review
2-Methoxyjuglone, a member of the 1,4-naphthoquinone family, was first obtained through semi-synthesis based on 2-hydroxyjuglone as the precursor in 1966. It has been isolated and identified from different plant species of the Juglandaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Proteaceae families. 2-Methoxyjuglone has been demonstrated to possess a wide range of biological activities, including antitumor, antifungal, and antibacterial activities; in addition, it has been shown to poison fish and inhibit seed germination. These properties make 2-methoxyjuglone a promising bioactive compound for pharmaceutical and agricultural purposes. This review article provides an overview of the current research progress on 2-methoxyjuglone for the first time, with a primary focus on the plant sources, extraction, identification, synthesis, and biological activities associated with this compound for further development.
Topics: Animals; Antifungal Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Poisons; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 36255662
DOI: 10.1007/s11596-022-2633-1 -
Forensic Science International Jan 2021Poisoning is an increasing and significant burden that causes morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this retrospective study, poisoning-related cases that occurred in 19...
Poisoning is an increasing and significant burden that causes morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this retrospective study, poisoning-related cases that occurred in 19 cities and prefectures in Sichuan, Southwest China, between 2010 and 2018 were collected from the West China Forensic Medical Center of Sichuan and Public Security Bureaus. A total of 782 poisoning-related deaths were recorded, and their demographic characteristics, season of death, type of poison, and manner and cause of death were analysed. Of these cases, the victims were predominantly male (65.3%), and the 21∼50-year-old age group included the most victims (63.2%). The rural incidence was 71%. The most common poisoning agent was pesticide (40%), followed by toxic gases (32%), and there were cases of poisoning by poisonous animals and plants that are not common in other regions of China. The predominant manner of poisoning death was accident (50%), followed by suicide (38.3%) and homicide (5.0%). In this study, relevant information on poisoning-related cases was collected and compared with the poisoning data from other areas of China and foreign countries to provide guidance for the formulation of public health policies in Sichuan, Southwest China.
Topics: Accidents; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Animals, Poisonous; Child; Child, Preschool; China; Female; Gas Poisoning; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Homicide; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Pesticides; Plants, Toxic; Poisoning; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Suicide, Completed; Young Adult
PubMed: 33208234
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110558 -
Toxins Nov 2022We review some of the precursor works of the Pasteurians in the field of bacterial toxins. The word "toxin" was coined in 1888 by Ludwig Brieger to qualify different... (Review)
Review
We review some of the precursor works of the Pasteurians in the field of bacterial toxins. The word "toxin" was coined in 1888 by Ludwig Brieger to qualify different types of poison released by bacteria. Pasteur had identified the bacteria as the cause of putrefaction but never used the word toxin. In 1888, Émile Roux and Alexandre Yersin were the first to demonstrate that the bacteria causing diphtheria was releasing a deadly toxin. In 1923, Gaston Ramon treated that toxin with formalin and heat, resulting in the concept of "anatoxin" as a mean of vaccination. A similar approach was performed to obtain the tetanus anatoxin by Pierre Descombey, Christian Zoeller and G. Ramon. On his side, Elie Metchnikoff also studied the tetanus toxin and investigated the cholera toxin. His colleague from Odessa, Nikolaï GamaleÏa who was expected to join Institut Pasteur, wrote the first book on bacterial poisons while other Pasteurians such as Etienne Burnet, Maurice Nicolle, Emile Césari, and Constant Jouan wrote books on toxins. Concerning the endotoxins, Alexandre Besredka obtained the first immune antiserum against lipopolysaccharide, and André Boivin characterized the biochemical nature of the endotoxins in a work initiated with Lydia Mesrobeanu in Bucharest.
Topics: Humans; Tetanus; Endotoxins; Tetanus Toxin; Bacteria; Poisons
PubMed: 36356009
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110759 -
The Veterinary Clinics of North... Apr 2024Range and pasture toxic plants can poison horses. Many of these plants are noxious weeds that can dominate plant populations and replace healthy forages. Poisoning is... (Review)
Review
Range and pasture toxic plants can poison horses. Many of these plants are noxious weeds that can dominate plant populations and replace healthy forages. Poisoning is often difficult to diagnose as the resulting plant-induced disease is similar to other infectious, toxic, and nutritional diseases. Identifying potentially problem plants, and observing what plants horses are eating, is essential in determining the risk of poisoning. If the risk is significant, it can drive management to invest in strategies to avoid exposure, animal disease, and suffering.
Topics: Animals; Horses; Poisons; Horse Diseases; Plants, Toxic
PubMed: 38184454
DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.12.002 -
Journal of Medical Toxicology :... Jul 2023
Topics: Child; Humans; Poisons; Poison Control Centers; Environmental Health
PubMed: 36988816
DOI: 10.1007/s13181-023-00942-6 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Nov 2022Vinegaroons (Mastigoproctus giganteus), also known as whip scorpions, are arachnids commonly found in the southwestern United States, parts of Mexico, and southern...
BACKGROUND
Vinegaroons (Mastigoproctus giganteus), also known as whip scorpions, are arachnids commonly found in the southwestern United States, parts of Mexico, and southern Florida. They do not bite, but have special teeth on the inside of the trochanters of the front appendages, used to crush prey. They are best known for having pygidial gland secretions containing 83% acetic acid, which are sprayed upon potential predators. There are no published descriptions of injury to human related to vinegaroon exposures. Our primary aim was to characterize types of exposures and clinical effects reported to a poison center that serves an area indigenous to this animal.
METHODS
The database from a regional poison center was searched for all cases from 1998 to 2022 regarding human exposures to the vinegaroon. Data captured included age, sex, exposure route, type and duration of symptoms, and part of the body affected.
RESULTS
There were 50 exposures reported, with age range from 5 months to 54 years. Females represented 32 cases, males 17, and one unknown. Bites were more commonly described (36 cases), with 13 cases reported skin exposure to secretions, 3 ocular exposures, and 2 ingestions. Location of injury was upper extremities in 16 cases, lower in 11 cases, and torso in 3 cases. Symptoms were present in 88% and included pain, skin erythema, numbness or tingling, itching, and swelling. Ocular exposure were associated with pain in all 3 cases, with blurred vision in one case; effects lasted 1 h, 17 h, and more than 5 days. Four non-ocular exposures were followed to outcome, with duration of effects ranging from less than 1 h to more than 2 days.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
In a large series of vinegaroon exposures, females predominated, with most exposures occurring from skin contact with secretions. The most common symptoms were pain, erythema, numbness, itching, and swelling, which resolved in less than two days. Ocular exposures were associated with more symptoms and longer duration of effects.
Topics: Male; Animals; Female; Humans; Infant; Poison Control Centers; Poisons; Hypesthesia; Scorpions; Bites and Stings; Pain; Pruritus; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36210603
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.09.014 -
Toxins Jul 2021Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that was first identified in pufferfish but has since been isolated from an array of taxa that host TTX-producing bacteria.... (Review)
Review
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that was first identified in pufferfish but has since been isolated from an array of taxa that host TTX-producing bacteria. However, determining its origin, ecosystem roles, and biomedical applications has challenged researchers for decades. Recognized as a poison and for its lethal effects on humans when ingested, TTX is primarily a powerful sodium channel inhibitor that targets voltage-gated sodium channels, including six of the nine mammalian isoforms. Although lethal doses for humans range from 1.5-2.0 mg TTX (blood level 9 ng/mL), when it is administered at levels far below LD, TTX exhibits therapeutic properties, especially to treat cancer-related pain, neuropathic pain, and visceral pain. Furthermore, TTX can potentially treat a variety of medical ailments, including heroin and cocaine withdrawal symptoms, spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, and some kinds of tumors. Here, we (i) describe the perplexing evolution and ecology of tetrodotoxin, (ii) review its mechanisms and modes of action, and (iii) offer an overview of the numerous ways it may be applied as a therapeutic. There is much to be explored in these three areas, and we offer ideas for future research that combine evolutionary biology with therapeutics. The TTX system holds great promise as a therapeutic and understanding the origin and chemical ecology of TTX as a poison will only improve its general benefit to humanity.
Topics: Animals; Drug Resistance; Ecology; Humans; Neurotoxins; Phylogeny; Poisons; Sodium Channel Blockers; Tetrodotoxin
PubMed: 34437388
DOI: 10.3390/toxins13080517